Illinois businessman indicted for alleged fraud

URBANA, Ill. — The owner of an eastern Illinois business has been indicted for allegedly defrauding the U.S. Department of Energy out of more than $1.5 million.

The U.S. Attorney's office says a federal grand jury indicted 78-year-old Joseph Samuel Kozicki on Wednesday on a charge of grant fraud.

Kozicki lives in Choctaw, Oklahoma. He could not be reached for comment.

According to the Justice Department, Kozicki owns AA Solar, Inc. in Danville. In March 2010 he was awarded a $1.8 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to buy and install equipment to build tracking systems for solar panels. Tracking systems allow the panels to track the sun and maximize energy output.

The Justice Department says Kozicki received more than $1.5 million but never built the production line.